NASA to get funds boost, but Katrina fixes costly

WASHINGTON — NASA would get a funding increase to $16.8 billion next year despite a budget that squeezes many domestic programs, under a proposal released Monday.

NASA touted the increase as 3.2 percent, but that does not include money for Hurricane Katrina repairs. When the actual NASA total for last year, including the hurricane money, is counted, NASA would get about a 1 percent increase for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

"NASA has been favored by the administration, but it's still a very tough environment," said agency head Mike Griffin.

Much of NASA's attention -- and money -- will be focused on President Bush's plan to return to the moon and prepare for a mission to Mars. But the budget for next year and plans for coming years show that project will eat into many other NASA programs.

NASA's science budget would increase just 1.5 percent, and then about 1 percent per year after that. Some lawmakers, especially those with NASA research centers in their districts, have complained in the past that science programs are getting short shrift.

The budget does include funding for a pet project of Congress -- using a space shuttle mission to repair the Hubble telescope.

The shuttle budget would drop to $4.06 billion next year from $4.77 billion this year under the proposal.

As NASA shifts focus from the shuttle to the moon and Mars, it will have a mismatch between where employees are working and where they are needed, budget officials said. The agency plans to cut its work force by about 1,000 in the coming year.